Daniel Edward Burnett pleads guilty to sexual assault at Gympie region pub

A married man’s “misogynistic”, vile assaults on a security guard who was groped and subjected to simulated sex acts at a country pub, has been described as an “attack on women as a whole”. *Distressing.

Daniel Edward Burnett leaves Gympie Magistrates Court on Thursday January 30, 2025, after pleading guilty to one count of sexual assault, and two counts of common assault.

A “lecherous” FIFO worker has been lashed in court for his “misogynistic” sexual assault of a female pub security officer who tried to cut him off at the bar.

Daniel Edward Burnett was out drinking with friends at a Gympie region pub on the night of 26 May, 2023, when the guard saw him get up on stage behind the band about 8.30pm, Gympie Magistrates Court heard Thursday.

Police Prosecutor Allison Johnstone said when the guard approached to remove him, Burnett engaged in a game of “cat and mouse” to avoid her before wrapping his arms around her in a “cuddle-like” grip.

She pushed him away yelling “get your hands off me, don’t touch me” but a “smiling” Burnett moved in again to grab her and “attempted to dance (with her)”.

When she told him he was “off tap” barred from buying any more drinks he “laughed”.

Daniel Edward Burnett leaves Gympie Magistrates Court on Thursday January 30, 2025, after pleading guilty to one count of sexual assault, and two counts of common assault.

Burnett then bent over in front of her “and wrapped both his arms around (her) waist and bottom”, trying to lift her,

He tried several times while she pushed down on his back in an attempt to stop him.

As she was pushing on Burnett, he “had his face in the victim’s groin area … laughing”, Sgt Johnstone said.

One of his friends then came over to her and “started to dry hump (her) from behind”, again forcing the 30-year-old’s head into her groin.

He was laughing and yelling “looks like we’ve got a threesome happening now” as she pushed him away.

She then warned him she would call the police if he touched her again, to which he silently turned back to his friends.

At 10.30pm she saw him and a friend head to the bar and watched as the friend bought two “milk drinks”.

The court heard she then approached the bar staff herself, suspecting they were alcoholic, at which point he “leaned in towards (her) and yelled ‘oh it’s what comes out of your breasts, milk’.

As Burnett said this, he then pinched her on the nipple.

She then pushed him away, and his actions were caught on the pub’s CCTV.

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Magistrate Bevan Hughes told Burnett he had “violated” the guard and his actions were “lecherous”, “degrading” and “without regard for your victim” as a woman, and as a security guard.

Sgt Johnstone said the guard was required to deal with intoxicated behaviour but “it does not have to reach this misogynistic and cowardice and degrading” level.

She told the court it was “entitled” behaviour and his friends joined in.

In a victim impact statement read to the court, Sgt Johnstone said the guard and severely impacted her life, causing her emotional stress and leaving her no longer wanting to socialise with people.

She had subsequently quit her career as a security guard and would “never forget” what Burnett had done, the court heard.

The 30-year-old’s lawyer told the court his client was “extremely remorseful” and had no criminal history and had been acting like a “pest” on the night.

He asked the court to consider not recording a conviction as Burnett, who was married and had a child, planned to fly to Canada for work in the future.

Burnett pleaded guilty to one count of sexual assault, and two counts of common assault.

Magistrate Bevan Hughes ordered Burnett to serve two years’ probation, pay $1500 in compensation to the guard and excoriated his behaviour towards her. No conviction was recorded.

Magistrate Bevan Hughes told Burnett he had “violated” the guard and his actions were “lecherous”, “degrading” and “without regard for your victim” as a woman, and as a security guard.

“Your behaviour belittled her,” Mr Hughes said, explaining Burnett’s actions further made other women at the pub feel vulnerable as they undermined the guard’s authority.

“If you can do that to a female security officer who is there employed to protect women, then that means the other women feel more vulnerable.

“It’s not just an attack on (the victim), it’s an attack on women as a whole.”

However, Magistrate Hughes ultimately agreed with the submission on recording no conviction and ordered Burnett serve two years’ probation and pay $1500 in compensation to the guard.

Originally published as Daniel Edward Burnett pleads guilty to sexual assault at Gympie region pub